It is being accepted on all hands that cooperatives in Maharashtra are on the wane. Their share of sugar and dairy production in the state has been plummeting. Following liberalization, powerful private players seem to have outwitted cooperatives.
Old-timers rue the current marginalization of cooperatives in Maharashtra – a state famed for its strong sugar and dairy cooperatives. However, the plight of cooperatives is being blamed on what experts call ” dire consequences ” flowing from globalization.
That is to say, only such cooperatives as show enough competitiveness survive. Amul and Iffco are great examples of it.
There is a growing realization that in the globalized economy, cooperatives have no choice but to follow the same business model private companies do. They have to be efficient and independent like private businesses. Most importantly, they have to cease knuckling under to politicians.